Jacquelin Vanderwood
December 2004
To learn to draw the hand, we must first break it down into it's simplest form. Trying to draw the whole hand and the fingers when you are a beginner is a daunting task and many times is not learned properly. In this lesson we will learn how to draw the seat of the hand. As you know without this part of the hand there would be no fingers to draw. Learning to draw this part is very important to the overall look of the hand. Below I have begun the lesson by drawing the palm turned inward. No thumb will be drawn in this lesson. Only a hint of the fingers will be shown to give a better understanding of the whole. The palm is in a relaxed, open position. Open your hand and try drawing what you see.
Here we have the seat of the hand in an outstretched position. Look at how the shape has changed. The hand is an amazing instrument. Draw your outstretched palm.
In this sketch we have the back of the hand. Notice how it bends outward naturally. Take note of the tendons under the skin and how they feed into each finger. Draw the back of the hand taking care to look at the position of where the fingers sit on the seat of the hand.
This sketch shows the seat of the hand at a 3/4 view angle. Note the angle at which the fingers seemed to be attached on a sloping angle.
From this side view the fingers and missing thumb are in the outstretched position. See how the terrain of the palm is not flat but follows the muscle and tendons under the skin.
At this position we can see more of the palm, the creases, how the fingers are attached in a downward fashion. Notice how the wrist attaches to the hand. Draw your hand in this position. Continue exploring the different views so that you can become very familiar with structure of the hand.
Copyright (c) 2004, Jacquelin Vanderwood, All Rights Reserved
